Lighting device for jack-o&#39;-lanterns and other hollow toys



y 7, 1954 H. s. ROOT ETAL 2,685,022

LIGHTING DEVICE FOR JACK-O-LANTERNS AND OTHER HOLLOW TOYS Filed Oct. 12,

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Far/2K 71 002 ki /1M2 Patented July 27, 1954 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE Howard S. Root and Fern K. Root, Spokane, Wash.

Application October 12, 1949, Serial No. 120,864

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to a lighting device for jack-o-lanterns and other hollow toys.

The principal purpose of our invention is to provide a novel construction of lighting device for jack-o-lanterns and other hollow toys.

Illumination of the pumpkin head or its artificial paper counterpart has been supplied by candles, thus creating a great source of danger to children dressed in inflammable Halloween costumes.

By means of this invention the otherwise dangerous Halloween toys can be made perfectly safe through utilization of an ordinary dry cell battery and supporting framework of metal. The design of our device is simple so that it can be manufactured at low cost and retailed as dime store merchandise.

The preferred form of the invention comprises a one-piece battery and lamp bulb holding frame with a clamp portion to fit over the top edge of the jack-o-lantern. The entire frame is of light sheet metal so formed that the battery and lamp bulb can be easily placed therein and will be retained securely.

The objects and advantages of this invention will appear more fully in the following description and the accompanyin drawings illustrating the preferred form and certain other modifications of the invention. It should be understood however, that the drawings and description are a illustrative only and not limitations upon the invention except insofar as it is limited by the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a vertical sectional view of a hollow toy containing the preferred construction of our lighting device;

Figure 2 is a side elevation showing the device open for insertion of the battery;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 and Figure 5 are side elevations of an alternate form of holding device constructed from wire;

Figure 6 is a to view of the holding device shown in Figures 4 and 5 with the battery in place;

Figure '7 is a bottom view of the holding device shown in Figures 4 and 5 with the battery in place.

The most simple embodiment of our improved toy lighting device is found in Figures 1 to 3 and its Wire construction counterpart in Figures 4 Referring now to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the pre- 2 ferred form of our invention comprises a one piece metal frame Ill. The jack-o-lantern [2 has a top opening l3 through which the frame it is inserted. A clamp part II of the frame I!) hooks over the top edge of the jack-o-lantern and holds the frame Ill against the inner wall of the jack-o-lantern opposite the face openings [4.

The frame iii preferably is formed of a light gauge sheet metal, such as aluminum, but other metals may be used. In making the frame ID, a strip of metal is bent to form a base IT, a top 48 and side walls 20 and 20a. The hook H is an extension of the wall Zfla. The base I! is punched to form a hole to receive the screw threads of a lamp blub It. A battery I5 is held between the side walls 2!) and Zlla by the curvature of the wall 212. The lamp bulb [B when threaded into place, forces the center contact l5a of the battery up against the top I8. This completes a circuit for energizing the bulb l6.

The top 58 is provided with a tongue l9 that extends through a slot 59a in the wall 20a. The end of the tongue I9 is turned up along the wall 20a. The tongue [9 can be lifted out of the slot l9a when the bulb is unscrewed to let the battery drop down from the top I8.

The battery can be inserted and removed, when the bulb is unscrewed, by snapping it in and out of place between the walls 20 and 20a. The metal we use has enough spring, or resilience to permit this. Of course, when the tongue [9 is lifted out of the slot I911 as shown in Figure 2, it is easy to insert or remove the battery [5. The frames are made in various sizes to fit the standard sizes of batteries that are commonly found on the market.

This device makes a safe, simple, lighting device for jack-o-lanterns or such hollow toys that have an opening large enough to insert the frame iii. It is free of prongs or sharp projections that might injure a small child. It can be made for very low cost. There is no danger of starting a fire with it.

The wire construction of Figures 4 to 7 inclusive, comprises a battery holding portion 2| and a hook portion 22 to fit over the edge of a jack-o-lantern i2. This construction is made from a single piece of wire bent to form a lamp receiving base composed of the curved portions 23-2=i. The battery I5 is confined between four leg portions 25, 26, 21 and 28. These portions can be sprung out to insert and remove the battery. Crossed portions 29 and 3|] contact the top terminal i5a of the battery.

The preferred form of the invention, illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 is not only attractive to an older child, but particularly useful for smaller children due to its simplicity of design and mounting. It requires no skill to mount in the toy and will illuminate the toy for the life of the battery. New batteries can easily be inserted when needed.

It is our intent to utilize this lighting device in illumination of all such toys as are adapted to or designed for it.

The preferred form is a light weight, easily manufactured device, capable of forming, by simple engagement with an electric bulb and dry cell battery, a safe illumination for toys.

From the foregoing description it is believed that the nature and advantages of the invention will be clear.

Having thus described our invention We claim:

1. In a lighting device, a metallic, substantially rectangular frame having oppositely disposed side portions which contain and extend beyond a battery, said portions being fixedly connected at one end by a transverse end portion and separably connected at the opposite end by a second transverse end portion, a lamp bulb threaded into one of said end portions and pressing the battery against the other end portion, and clamping means comprising an extended end on one of said side portions projecting beyond the transverse end portion connecting it to the other side portion and bent to U-shape for attaching it to a jack-o-lantern, or other hollow toys, the frame and lamp bulb providin an electric circuit between the ends of the battery.

2. In a lighting device, a dry cell battery holder comprising a metal strip having oppositely disposed side portions which contain and extend beyond a battery, one of which is curved transversely to present a concave face toward the other side portion, said metal strip having end portions transverse to said side portions and connecting the side portions to form a closed rectangular frame, one of said end portions being threaded to receive a lamp bulb, one of said, side portions being extended beyond the other end portion and bent back upon itself to form a hook for suspending the device.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,162,288 Grah Nov. 30, 1915 1362,05 1 Tangee July 17, 1923 1,901,253 Meginniss Mar. 14, 1933 2,166,657 Evelyn July 18, 1939 2,236,071 Roskam et a1 Mar. 25, 1941 2,428,133 Yogan Sept. 30, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 315,477 Germany Nov. 6, 1919 509,743 France Aug. 24, 1920 

